明正統 鎏金銅文殊菩薩坐像 銘文「張尤理妻王氏」

cast seated on a double-lotus pedestal in vajraparyankasana with left hand held at the stomach and right hand raised to the chest holding stalks of lotus flowers, a billowing scarf draped across the shoulders and a dhoti falling into elegant pleats, with chest and waist adorned by elaborate beaded necklaces, the face set in a benevolent expression and gentle smile, the back of the shawl incised with an indistinct mark above the inscription Zhang Youli qi Wang shi (Wang, wife of Zhang Youli), the baseplate engraved with a visvavajra

This finely cast gilt-bronze sculpture of the bodhisattva Manjushri, depicted seated in vajraparyankasana, shares distinctive characteristics with a small number of Zhengtong-dated figures in museum and private collections.

Representing a clear development of the sculptural and iconographic traditions associated with the renowned gilt bronzes of the Yongle and Xuande periods, these Zhengtong-dated figures serve as benchmarks for stylistic evaluation of mid-fifteenth century Buddhist works. For a Zhengtong period gilt-bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara in the Palace Museum Collection, Beijing, dated 1441, see The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Statues of Tibet, Hong Kong, 2008, p. 232, pl. 221. The distinctive expression on the downcast, contemplative face closely relates to the current smaller example, as does the treatment of the crisply defined lotus base, the ornate jewellery and curling stalks. For a Zhengtong gilt-bronze figure sold at auction, see the example from the collection of Joseph Morak, dated 1447, sold in these rooms, 8th October 2015, lot 3113.